Church leader selection begins

Members of a group responsible for senior Church of England appointments begin a three-day meeting today to decide who should succeed Dr Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury. The Crown Nominations Commission is meeting at a secret location.

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The Archbishop of Canterbury must fulfil a number of roles including that of bishop of the Canterbury diocese and head of the Church of England as well as acting as a "focus of unity" for the worldwide Anglican Communion.

In recent years, the Anglican Communion has been split by the divide between traditionalists and liberals over homosexuality.

The appointment comes as the CoE General Synod stands poised to give final approval in November to the introduction of women bishops after years of negotiations.

Dr Williams has described the post of Archbishop of Canterbury as one of "immense demands" and has said his successor will need the "constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros".

The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James, is another senior figure thought be under consideration.

The commission is also thought to be considering whether to appoint one of a younger generation of bishops including the Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, who is 53 years old, and the Rt Rev Justin Welby, 56, who was enthroned less than a year ago as Bishop of Durham.